SCOOBA — For Kiki Patterson, the basketball journey has been a long one.
After a standout career at Columbus High School, Patterson signed with Mississippi State. After a brief stint with MSU’s women’s basketball program, Patterson left the team. Now she is at East Mississippi Community College.
The relationship between Patterson and her current coach Sharon Thompson is a strong one,
“Kiki has been a wonderful player,” Thompson said. “She has worked hard in the classroom and really set an example in the weight room and in practice. We are excited about having her in our program and helping her reach her potential.”
EMCC will tip the season off at 5:30 tonight when it plays at Alabama Southern College. The home opener will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Meridian C.C.
“The last couple of weeks have been really good for this team,” said Patterson, a three-time player of the year for The Dispatch at Columbus High. “Coach has been very hard about us on the things we need to do to get better before the season starts. Defense, transition. It has been all about that kind of stuff. I think we have been getting better each week.”
EMCC will see how much it has improved thanks to a rigorous non-region schedule. Much like the men’s program, Thompson begins her 10th season with a new team. All 14 players (seven freshmen, seven sophomores) are in their first year with the program. Patterson is the only player from the Golden Triangle area.
“We are really looking forward to the year,” Thompson said. “Sometimes with a bunch of new players, you have concerns. At the same time, there is a lot of excitement. You just don’t really know how it is going to all fit together, so we have taken this as a challenge but had fun with it.
“Even though it is a new team, we still have the same high expectations. When we recruit a player, they are aware of our expectations, so they are expected to come in and be a part of that winning tradition.”
Last season, EMCC finished 16-9. The Lady Lions won their third Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges North Division regular-season championship in six seasons. The season ended with an opening-round loss in the Region 23 tournament.
Thompson also topped the 100-victory milestone last season.
“We will play with the same basic principles,” Thompson said. “Our goal is to get up and down the court. I have been very pleased with our speed. I think the transition game will be very important offensively and defensively. The chemistry part has been real good. The girls are getting along great.
“We have been going at since August, so really the focus now is playing on some opponents. You can only keep the energy level up in practice for so long, before you need to get out there and play some games, so we are excited to get started.”
Patterson also is excited to start. The personal issues that played a role in leaving MSU are in the past. Her focus is on helping the Lady Lions return to a championship level.
“The girls on this team are goofy,” Patterson said. “We play with each other and like to have a good time. Good chemistry off the court is very important if you are going to have good chemistry on the court.”
“I am excited about my new home. We have some talented players on this team. It is going to be a fun year.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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